Cooling and CO2 -enrichment of drinking water

Abstract

A method for continuous carbonation and optionally cooling of drinking water which can be carried out in a user-friendly appliance which can be accommodated in any household and provides the consumer with the possibility of dispensing preferably cooled, CO 2 -containing drinking water by the glass or cupful, is characterised in that in the continuous (in-line) process drinking water taken from the mains supply is carbonated and is optionally cooled; the device comprising a carbonation section for connection to the drinking water supply main and at least one pressure-controlling tap at the end of the dispensing line, and optionally a cooling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of in-line carbonation of drinking water, comprising the steps of: withdrawing drinking water from a drinking water supply line and, simultaneously, dispensing the drinking water at a dispense point; and   carbonating the drinking water only during flow of the drinking water from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point, while a predetermined portion of the drinking water is being dispensed.   
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of cooling the drinking water as it flows from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carbonating step follows the cooling step. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carbonation step precedes the cooling step. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carbonating step takes place simultaneously with the cooling step. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cooling step includes providing a compression-type cooling system for cooling the drinking water. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cooling step includes providing a Peltier cooling system for cooling the drinking water. 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cooling step includes conducting a portion of the drinking water to-be-cooled in the Peltier cooling system through a bypass line as cooling water. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbonating step includes charging the flowing drinking water with CO 2  using an injection principle. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carbonating step includes providing injection means for charging the drinking water with CO 2 , and passing the drinking water through the injection means at an increased velocity whereby CO 2  is aspirated by the passing drinking water, with CO 2  being absorbed by the drinking water in a mixing section of a conduit, which communicates the drinking water supply line with the dispense point and is located downstream of the injection means, under turbulence conditions. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the withdrawing and dispensing step includes flowing the drinking water at least through a portion of a conduit, which communicates the drinking water supply line with the dispense point, under a pressure corresponding to a pressure of the drinking water in the drinking water supply line. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the withdrawing and dispensing step includes flowing the drinking water at least through a portion of a conduit, which communicates the drinking water supply line with the dispense point, under a pressure which exceeds the pressure of the drinking water in the drinking water supply line. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of cooling the drinking water as it flows from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point, and wherein the withdrawing and dispensing step includes increasing the pressure of the drinking water above the pressure of the drinking water in the drinking water supply line after at least one of cooling of the drinking water and carbonation of the drinking water. 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of cooling the drinking water as it flows from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point, and wherein the withdrawing and dispensing step includes increasing the pressure of the drinking water above the pressure of the drinking water in the drinking water supply line after cooling of the drinking water and before carbonation of the drinking water. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of cooling the drinking water as it flows from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point, and wherein the withdrawing and dispensing step includes increasing the pressure of the drinking water above the pressure of the drinking water in the drinking water supply line before cooling of the drinking water and after carbonation of the drinking water. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbonating step includes discharging a variable amount of CO 2 , in accordance with a desired carbonation of the drinking water at the dispense point. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of increasing a velocity of the drinking water in a carbonation region of a conduit connecting the drinking water supply line with the dispense point. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of stabilizing the drinking water after the drinking water has been carbonated. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of controlling pressure of the drinking water in accordance with drinking water take-off conditions at the dispense point. 
     
     
       20. A device for carbonation of drinking water in a continuous in-line processing, the device comprising at least one carbonation section for connection to a drinking water supply line; a dispensing line arranged downstream of the at least one carbonation section; and means provided in the carbonation section for carbonating the drinking water and designed for carbonation of the drinking water only during flow of the drinking water from the drinking water supply line toward a dispense point. 
     
     
       21. The device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a system for cooling the drinking water and located upstream of the dispense point. 
     
     
       22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cooling system is arranged upstream of the carbonation section. 
     
     
       23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cooling system is a compression cooling system. 
     
     
       24. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cooling system is a Peltier cooling system. 
     
     
       25. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the carbonation section comprises an injector connected with a source of CO 2 . 
     
     
       26. The device as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a system for cooling the drinking water and located upstream of the injector. 
     
     
       27. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the carbonation section comprises a mixing tube, in which the drinking water is mixed with CO 2 , and the injector comprises a nozzle having a low pressure end thereof projecting into the mixing tube. 
     
     
       28. The device as claimed in claim 27, further comprising means for controlling supply of CO 2  into the mixing tube. 
     
     
       29. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the controlling means comprises a flow quantity control valve for controlling the supply of CO 2  from the CO 2  source. 
     
     
       30. The device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a pump for pressurizing the drinking water which flows from the drinking water supply line to the dispense point. 
     
     
       31. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the pressurizing pump is located upstream of the carbonation section. 
     
     
       32. The device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the carbonation section comprises a pressure monitor. 
     
     
       33. The device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the pressure monitor is operatively connected with the pressurizing pump for switching same on and off dependent on withdrawal of the drinking water at the dispense point. 
     
     
       34. The device as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a non-return valve located between the pressurizing pump and the injector. 
     
     
       35. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the carbonation section forms part of the dispensing line. 
     
     
       36. The device as claimed in claim 20, farther comprising a compensator for controlling pressure of the drinking water and provided at the dispensing point for optimizing mixing of CO 2  with the drinking water. 
     
     
       37. The device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising non-threaded connection means for connecting the device with a CO 2  source. 
     
     
       38. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the device is formed as a portable unit. 
     
     
       39. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the device is formed as a modular construction. 
     
     
       40. The device as claimed in claim 39, comprising a plurality of CO 2  supply modules. 
     
     
       41. The device as claimed in claim 40, comprising a drinking water cooling system formed as a cooling module. 
     
     
       42. The device as claimed in claim 41, wherein the plurality of CO 2  supply modules comprises at least two modules simultaneously connected to the cooling module. 
     
     
       43. The device as claimed in claim 39, comprising a plurality of tapping valves at the dispense point for enabling withdrawal of drinking water at several points.